By Lorraine Miller

In the morning mist, a deep rumbling call echoes through the trees as its creator sits perched on a high platform, taking in the sights and sounds of the surrounding forest. Krismon is an adult male Sumatran orangutan who lives with five others of his kind at the Orangutan Haven sanctuary in Pancur Batu, Northern Sumatra. Orangutan Haven is the first sanctuary anywhere, dedicated solely to rescued orangutans that cannot be released back to the wild.

“Krismon was confined to a cage barely bigger than his body for 19 years before being rescued and is just one of many survivors of anthropomorphic threats to orangutans who can no longer be released back to the wild due to past trauma and injuries”. Explains Dr Ian Singleton, Orangutan conservationist and the Director of Orangutan Haven.

This innovative project was created in collaboration with Yayasan Ekosystem Lestari or YEL, a non-profit organization that has been forming partnerships and developing projects in Sumatra to protect orangutans and natural ecosystems for over 20 years. During this time, YEL’s projects have become icons in the conservation and environmental protection field in Sumatra by focusing on conservation, environmental education and community development for those living adjacent to conservation areas.

Opening its doors to the public earlier this year, the Orangutan Haven showcases the best of YELs initiatives to protect orangutans, promote their positive welfare, deliver environmental education and empower community conservation. The initial vision of a sanctuary for non-releasable orangutans has evolved substantially since its inception and the Orangutan Haven is now an eco-tourism hub that gives visitors the opportunity to explore wild Sumatra through an array of experiences that inspire a deeper connection with nature, leaving guests feeling more committed to wildlife and the environment.

“I feel very proud to have been part of the team that created such an extraordinary facility” states Dr Singleton, who has spent many years as a researcher in the forests of Sumatra and knows all too well the effect land conversion, for such commodities as palm oil, has on local wildlife.

These majestic apes have had to contend with the depletion of their habitats, a reduction in resources and the ever-lingering danger of finding themselves on managed land in order to survive. With humans utilizing the forests’ resources and previously forested areas being converted into agricultural land it is inevitable that the inhabitants of such areas will become victims of human encroachment and conflict. Travelling through these areas or taking advantage of the food sources there is a dangerous activity for the already endangered great apes, who often find themselves on the receiving end of aggressive encounters. Human-wildlife conflict and other threats have claimed the lives of many Sumatran orangutans in recent years with few escaping with life-changing injuries. “I always describe them as refugees” he says “whose homeland is no longer available to them.

Dr Singleton was also an integral part of the team who discovered the existence of an entirely new species of orangutan in 2017, now known as the Tapanuli orangutan, which was immediately labelled as one of the most endangered primates in the world.

Recent surveys have suggested there are around 14,000 Sumatran Orangutans and a mere 800 Tapanuli Orangutans remaining on the island, which means both species are classified by the IUCN Red List of endangered species as Critically Endangered. “When people compare these numbers and suggest the Sumatran orangutan has plenty of individuals left, I like to remind them that Barcelona’s football stadium holds 99,000 supporters. The entire population of Sumatran orangutans alive today can fit in the section behind just one goal”. When using comparisons like these it is easy to imagine how one natural disaster or disease could easily wipe this species off the face of the planet in a very short space of time. “And it’s not just the orangutans” Dr Singleton continues, “it’s all life within these forests that are struggling to survive due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

In such a biodiversity rich area as this you can find 1000 insects on just one tree”. Rhinos, tigers, orangutans and elephants are all found within this region, which is unlike anywhere else on earth, but then immediately next to it, you have vast areas of barren landscape, land which has been converted into palm oil plantations that can sustain no life whatsoever. “It’s not unusual for orangutans to attempt to cross these large areas of plantation if they can see forest on the other side and this is where they come into conflict with villagers and landowners. The lucky ones are rescued from these areas before they are fatally wounded and taken to rescue centers, but many are not so lucky.”

Once an orangutan has completed its rehabilitation and is given a clean bill of health it can be released back into the wild. Unfortunately, some of the orangutans that pass through these rescue centers cannot be released due to debilitating illnesses or injuries sustained mainly through human encroachment and conflict. Often needing additional care these orangutans find themselves remaining at a rescue center which lacks the space, complexity and individual support they need to live a fulfilling life in human care.

The region needed a solution to this problem and so, thanks to YEL and the dedicated conservationists working on the project, Orangutan Haven was born. Spanning a site of 48 hectares, the haven includes specially designed islands for each of their orangutan inhabitants to ensure they can experience life as close to their home in the wild as possible.

Three of the six residents are blind because of illnesses or injuries sustained during their traumatic encounters with humans, whilst others suffer from joint problems, deformities and behavioural issues as a result of being kept as illegal pets, in small, confined spaces. These unfortunate victims have spent years being treated and rehabilitated in their rescue centers, having to overcome the trauma of their past, but in December 2023 the first of these survivors were transported to their new home and given a new life in their open and bespoke habitat at Orangutan Haven.

“It’s incredible to see these orangutans living in wide open spaces after the hardships they have had to endure. There’s almost a new life in their eyes when they meet new orangutans or go outside for the first time without bars in front of them” says Dr Singleton.

Now you’ll find once shy and reserved orangutans, confidently traversing their island homes. Individuals that have spent years in the confinement of small cages, scaling to new heights and apes that have spent years in the dark, now able to bask in the Sumatran sun. 

Becoming more than just a haven for rescued orangutans, the project has evolved to incorporate sustainable buildings, renewable energy and community-led conservation practices. Leading the way in sustainable resource management, many of the new state-of-the-art facilities were designed using a combination of local knowledge and renewable practices, reducing the facilities carbon footprint and creating an unparalleled nature experience, highlighting a deep-routed connection to the regions culture and heritage.

But Orangutans aren’t the only species to have benefited from the ecopark. Indonesia is unfortunately home to the second highest number of globally threatened bird species in the world, with the illegal wildlife trade being one of their biggest threats, predominantly to songbirds in the region.

“Songbirds are harvested regularly in Indonesia with some species being close to extinction as a result. They are also very susceptible to things like habitat fragmentation, which as a bird you wouldn’t think wouldn’t pose a big problem, but they are very sensitive to changes in light and heat which means they will stay well away from the roads which divide their populations” – Dr Singelton explains.

In collaboration with the IUCN Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group and the Silent Forest campaign of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, 24 aviaries have been built at the Orangutan haven site for the captive breeding of endangered songbird species to supplement their wild populations and ensure their survival.

The property also boasts an eco-farm that provides locally grown organic produce for the community, implementing best practices in sustainable agriculture. The eco-farm uses techniques that prioritize soil and water conservation, whilst delivering nutritious food and empowering communities to adopt sustainable agriculture. Nature walks through the forest and interactive educational opportunities create an accessible way to immerse yourself in nature whilst learning about the region’s unique ecosystem.

Future projects at the site include event and function centers, a rainforest exhibition hall and the forest school education centre, where visitors and students can learn about the species found in the surrounding forests and their unique habitats. They will also hear about the threats facing these incredible animals in the wild, whilst having the opportunity to view the resident orangutans from a distance so as not to disturb their natural behaviour. “We have partnered with organisations such as the International Zoo Educators Association to ensure our educational programmes are in line with the current curriculum and work with schools and universities from all around the world, inspiring the next generation of change-makers” Adds Dr Singelton. “An ecology center is also in the pipeline, which highlights the importance of scientific research for biodiversity conservation and where students and researchers can gain practical experience whilst contributing to conservation efforts”.

Since its original initiation in 2017, Orangutan Haven has since become a role model for conservation, animal welfare, and sustainable practices, and a source of knowledge and education for future generations. This innovative project has not only provided unreleasable orangutans with a brighter future but has brought together conservationists, researchers, zoologists, governments, NGOs and local communities to produce a world-class facility delivering a truly holistic approach to conservation.

Having previously been awarded an MBE for his contribution to conservation and now a finalist for the Indianapolis prize Dr Ian Singleton is part of a network of people from around the world, who are on a mission to save the Leuser ecosystem and with it our entire planet. He explains how the threats faced by the orangutans concern us all. The burning of the peat swamps in Sumatra to convert land for agricultural use, not only removes valuable forests but releases tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The peat then compacts over time, it is suggested that at the end of the life of the first crops planted, the land will have lowered by up to 2.5 meters, meaning in 40 or 50 years the sea will inevitably reclaim this land, and it will be of no use to anyone. Indonesia has already seen a huge amount of flash flooding in recent years as a result, which has cost lives and the worldwide economy over 200 million dollars. “One or two people are getting rich, whilst everyone else in the world pays for it” Dr Singleton says. 

Indonesia holds 56% of the world’s peatlands and if these were to all to be converted in the same way it would release between 4-16 times the amount of CO2 that is currently in the atmosphere today. “If we lose these peatlands at the rate in which we have been over the past few decades we as a species may not be able to survive, making the issue of deforestation in Indonesia everyone’s problem”. It’s not all about the orangutans, but the plight of these iconic apes and the reason they are endangered should concern us all and only by working together can we save not only the orangutans and the forests but our own species in the process.

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About The Author

Lorraine Miller is a zoologist and author from the UK. She is the director of Great Ape Consultancy and alongside her work promoting positive animal welfare, she works with the B-Corp travel company ‘Flooglebinder’ to facilitate conservation and sustainability focused travel. She also works with several animal charities including the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation and Wild Welfare as well as publishing books and articles focused on conservation education. She also has a huge passion for marine life and is a PADI rescue diver and licensed marine mammal medic.

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